Improvement in boot-heels



F. RICHARDSON & F. HACKER;

Boot-Heels.

No 126,490, Patented May 7,1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNORS TO REVERSIBLE BOOT-HEEL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOT-HEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,490, dated May 7,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK RICE- ARDSON and FRANCIS HACKER, both ofthe city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Boot-Heels.

Our present improvement relates to that class of heels known aschangeable or reversible; and it consists in combining a springplatewith an exterior heel-shell and a changeable tap in such a manner thatthe shock of the tread upon pavements or frozen ground will bematerially lessened, and, therefore, also render sharpened frictionalsurfaces, adapted to secure a foot-hold upon ice, 850., less liable tobe blunted or dulled by ordinary use; and we do hereby declare that thefollowing specification, taken in connection with the drawing furnishedand forming a part of the same, is a true, clear, and exact descriptionof a bootheel involving our invention.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 represents in perspective one of ourheels complete, ready for the manufacturer. Fig. 2 represents the sameheel in longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 represents a changeableand reversible heel-tap, having a smooth face for ordinary wear andanother face which is provided with sharp points for presenting africtional surface for use on ice, &c.

A in the drawing denotes the changeable and reversible heel-tap; oneside is plain and clothed or filled with wood, leather, or suitablecomposition. It is provided with a projecting lateral flange, a, and isthe subject of Letters Patent already issued to us. B denotes a metallicheel-shell of the general form of a boot-heel. C denotes thespring-plate. It is loosely fitted to the interior of the heelshell andengages with a lateral interior projection, 01, therein.

Applied to a boot, and as exhibited in Fig. 2, the spring-plate ispermanently, at or near its center, attached by screws or nails to anexterior heel-like structure, which is, in turn,

permanently attached to the bottom of the boot or shoe. The tap A issecured by a central screw, E, which engages with a tubular nut, e,projecting downward through the sprin gplate, or which may as wellengage direct with the interior heel-like structure.

It will be readily observed that in this case the entire exterior heelis secured to the boot by the central screw, although the heel-shellwill be prevented from falling off when the central screw is removed byslight lugs or projections, j, which may be cast on the interior of theshell, if desired. In this latter event the spring-plate would be so cutas to allow of its being sprung into position between the lugs f and theprojection d.

As incidental to its peculiar structure, the spring-plate in practicewill keep the central screws at a constant bearing with the nut e, andin a manner prevent it from working free.

As adapted for gentlemens wear, or forladies and childrens use, it willbe seen that whenever occasion requires it the tap A can be adjustedwith its points presented for the wearing-surface, and be so worn untilno longer needed when the plain smooth surface can be presented for use;and that, although the spring action of the heel will not prevent thefrictional points from engaging properly with slippery surfaces, theshock of the tread will be obviated, and unnecessary wear of the points,when walking on frozen ground or pavements, be effectually prevented.

We are aware that spring-heels, broadly considered, are not new and \Ve,therefore, claim as our invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent- The combination of the heel-shell, the changeable tap, and theintermediate spring-plate C, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

FREDERICK RICHARDSON. FRANCIS HACKER. Witnesses:

GHARLEs SELDEN, JOHN G. PURKIS.

